Steering wanders

[milkman]

I think my tractor had been partying Saturday night, I went about a quarter of a mile down the road to mow some grass yesterday and the steering was acting up. I know I have read about the symptoms here before but can't find it again or the solution. I have an '01 BX2200 and the tractor just started to wander all over the road and I had to turn the wheel maybe a half turn the opposite direction to get it to even start to straighten up, then in a few seconds, it would wander off again and I'd have to turn the wheel a long way to get it to respond again. In between these wandering spells, the steering was normal and after I ran a while it stopped doing it. Anyone remember this problem from earlier posts or what the solution was?

 

[MrJimi]

How much play do you have in the ( steering )wheel? and is all your linkage tight
Jim

 

[milkman]

No play in steering wheel, only linkage is the tie rod ends at the end of the steering cylinder. The steering is hydrostatic and I suspect the unit under the dash has an internal leak.

 

[TommyT]

My BX1500 has done that a couple of times. I agree with you that it's most likely a problem with the valve unit at the steering wheel.

Strangley enough, I found that if I shut off the engine, turn the steering wheel back and forth a few times, start up and all is well. Something sticking inside that steering unit, I think.

 

[milkman]

I'll turn it off and give that a try the next time it acts up, I know this being discussed before, and I'm afraid it might be expensive if it's the unit under the dash if that is what has to be replaced, hoping for maybe a rebuild kit.

 

[pdowling1]

It isn't the steering gear, but rather the hydraulic cylinder down by the front axle is leaking internally. This is a known problem with your tractor. See if your dealer will give you a break on the repair, the part is not cheap!

 

[milkman]

I'm interested in more input, have you had the same problem, were they able to rebuild the cylinder?
I will also call the dealer and see if they know about this and post whatever I hear.

Edit:
Just got off the phone to the dealer, he said 90% of the time it IS the cylinder, the O ring has probably got a flat spot and I can take it apart and replace the O ring and it is as good as new. That's GOOD NEWS. Since I really do baby this thing I can't imagine something like this happening in just 500 hrs.

 

[RobJ]

No kidding Milkman, I don't see ANY extra load on the steering.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I'm interested in more input, have you had the same problem, were they able to rebuild the cylinder?
I will also call the dealer and see if they know about this and post whatever I hear.

Edit:
Just got off the phone to the dealer, he said 90% of the time it IS the cylinder, the O ring has probably got a flat spot and I can take it apart and replace the O ring and it is as good as new. That's GOOD NEWS. Since I really do baby this thing I can't imagine something like this happening in just 500 hrs.

Be sure your hyraulic fluid is full. This happened when mine was low.
Larry

 

[SeymourBota]

I had this exact problem on my 2200. Took two trips to the dealer for them to decide it was the front cylinder. Seems some of the cylinders had been stored outside and were either pitted or otherwise degraded.
In my case, they replaced the whole component.

You could turn the steering wheel as many times as you wanted and nothing would happen unless you did it suddenly and quickly- certainly not conducive to mowing!!!!